Ohio Unit Plan of Action

CHILDREN & YOUTH

District Children and Youth Chairmen

01 553 MARY BETH PARKER 3311 MAPLEWAY DR TOLEDO 43614 (419) 385-6531 mbparker58@yahoo.com

02 387 RUTH BROOKHART 718 N FRANKLIN ST NEW BREMEN 45869 (419) 629-2238 crbrookhart@nktelco.net

03 286 ANTHEA WILSON 323 GALEWOOD DR NEW CARLISLE 45344 (937) 925-1180 anthea_w1016@yahoo.com

04 450 JUDI MAUPIN 3194 BEECH RD BETHEL 45106-9458 (513) 560-0534 hudi@aol.com

05 257 DEBORAH SUTTERLIN 950 TWP RD 2506 PERRYSVILLE 44864 (330) 465-9230 debsutterlin270@gmail.com

06 417 PAT RILEY 24 CLIFFVIEW DR MT STERLING 43143 (740) 869-8319 prot022centurylink.net

07 757 JOANN KNECHT 604 GARDEN DR CHILLICOTHE 45601 (740) 701-0083 joann_knecht@yahoo.com

08 283 TAMMY DEROSIER 12125258 DEEDS RD PATASKALA 43062 (740) 587-3262 ccartha59@aol.com

09 601 DEBBIE BRACALE 5730 HERITAGE AVE MADISON 44057 (440) 428-7637

10 718 PAT CARPENTER PO BOX 99 MARSHALLVILLE 44645

11 064 SUZANNE WAGNER 211 VANBERGEN AVE MARIETTA 45750 (740) 374-8814 suewagner45750@yahoo.com

12 171 SHEILA NOCKS 8000 SCHOTT RD

WESTERVILLE 43381 (614) 563-4798 sheilanocks@yahoo.com

13 091 SHARON KREPELKA 20934 SHELDON RD BROOK PARK 44142 (440) 243-1789

14 449 KAREN PEEL 2216 25TH STREET SW

AKRON 44314 (330) 926-0738 karen.peel@svindustries.com

Narrative Deadline: April 15, 2019

MAIL TO DISTRICT CHILDREN & YOUTH CHAIRMAN

CHAIRMAN VICE CHAIRMAN

Ruth Peters Deborah Miller

205 North Hayes Street Post Office Box 272

Bellefontaine, Ohio 43311 Waterford, Ohio 45786-0272

N/A (home) (740) 525-5250 (home)

(937) 539-8161 (cell) (cell)

Email – rpeters3704@twc.com Email – debs4mms@aol.com

REPORT DUE : April 15, 2019

SEND REPORT TO : Your District Children & Youth Chairman

(address shown below)

Ohio Unit Plan of Action

If you would like to be considered for a Department or National Award attach your

narrative to this report form. Follow all criteria when composing your Unit Program

Narratives. Criteria for ALL narratives are as follows:

Narrative must be typed written in narrative form.

Narrative must not exceed 1,000 words. (Can be fewer words if program dictates)

Narrative may include photographs and news articles.

Answer the following Questions in your narrative

• How did your Unit promote “Star Spangled Kids,” educating children and youth

about the U.S. Constitution from the aspect of patriotism and

Americanism?________________________________________________________

• How did your Unit promote the Youth Hero/Good Deed Award?________________

• What success stories do you have regarding support for military and or homeless

veterans’ children?____________________________________________________

The National Cover Sheet is included on the backside of

this form. Please fill out the Unit or Member Portion and

send with the Narrative this sheet, the back of this sheet

and your Narrative to your District or Department

Chairman

Ohio Unit Plan of Action

Ohio Unit Plan of Action

CHILDREN & YOUTH

What is this program, and why do we have it?

The Children & Youth program emphasizes protecting, caring for and supporting children

and youth, particularly those of veterans and military families. Children & Youth and the

2014-2019 ALA Centennial Strategic Plan: By protecting, caring for, and supporting children

and youth, particularly those of veterans and military families, ALA members fulfill our

brand promise (Goal 5) of being community leaders and responsible American citizens while

caring for military families. In doing so, we are building a future membership base (Goal 1)

among our target demographic, military families.

What can you do?

1. Support Children and Youth in your community.

• “Star Spangled Kids”: This is an ALA program to educate children and youth on

the history of the United States from the aspect of patriotism, Americanism and the

U.S. Constitution.

• Youth Hero Awards/Good Deed Awards: This is an ALA program to recognize

youth who demonstrate a heroic act of physical valor or who exemplify community

service in action.

• Josh dogs: An American Legion Family alliance, GI Josh is a plush dog and

accompanying storybook used to help ease separation fears for the military children.

• April is The American Legion’s Children and Youth Month

Ideas:

Member

• Offer to make a “Star Spangled” presentation to your local schools. Invite post

members to help students learn how their military service was meaningful in

defending the U.S. Constitution.

o Refer to the Star Spangled Kids how to sheet at the end of this program Plan

for more information.

• Contact local high schools to invite them to encourage their students to use their

knowledge of the U.S. Constitution by participating in The American Legion

Oratorical Contest.

o Refer to www.legion.org for information on the Oratorical Contest.

• Monitor newspapers, TV and neighborhoods for children and youth who have

performed a heroic act of physical valor, such as performing CPR, helping evacuate

in the event of a fire, calling 911 for an emergency, etc. Work with your unit to

nominate them for a Youth Hero/Good Deed Award.

• Contact local schools, churches and youth groups to make them aware of the Youth

Hero/Good Deed Awards. Make sure to leave unit contact information.

• Identify children in your community who may be or are facing hospitalization for the

first time and who may benefit from a Josh and friends dog and book.

Ohio Unit Plan of Action

Unit

• Create a Unit Citizenship Award for children and youth who have learned the ideals

of the U.S. Constitution.

• Share a constitutional fact each month in the unit newsletter, the newspaper editorial

and/or on social media.

• September 17 is Constitution Day (Citizenship Day). Host a party that revolves

around the U.S. Constitution for children.

• Print and distribute pocket constitutions to schoolchildren.

o Refer to the Star Spangled Kids how to sheet at the end of this program Plan

for more information.

• Once a child has been identified as a Youth Hero/Good Deed applicant, complete the

nomination form. See the Youth Hero/Good Deed nomination form at the end of

this program Plan to submit the name of the child. Have the form signed by two unit

members, and then submit the form to your department secretary.

• When a Youth Hero/Good Deed award is approved, contact local media, community

school leaders and the child’s parents, and plan for a public presentation of the

award.

• Plan a special celebration of children during the month of April in honor of Children

and Youth Month.

2. Support military children and youth • Kids of Deployed are Heroes 2 (KDH2): This is a recognition program for military

children who experience extended separation from their military parent or parents.

• GI Josh: An American Legion Family alliance, GI Josh is a plush dog and

accompanying storybook used to help ease separation fears for the military children.

• April is the Month of the Military Child

Ideas:

Member

• Volunteer at a Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) camp program.

• Volunteer at a Family Readiness Group event where KDH2 “I’m a Hero 2”

buttons/stickers can be distributed.

• Give a GI Josh to the child of a deployed service member.

• Wear purple on April 15 in honor of Purple Up! for Military Kids day.

Unit

• Host a dinner, game night, community fair, etc. that will bring military and non-military families together.

• Host a KDH2 celebration with recognition buttons/stickers to let military kids know

we appreciate their sacrifices.

o Refer to the how to sheet at the end of this program Plan for more

information.

• Support G.I. Josh – Identify military children who may have a parent or sibling

deploying.

• Plan a special celebration of military children during April in honor of the Month of

the Military Child.

• Encourage members to wear purple on April 15 in honor of Purple Up! for Military

Kids day.

Ohio Unit Plan of Action

3. Support veterans’ children and youth.

• Homeless veterans’ children

• Klinger, a Story of Honor and Hope – Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors

(TAPS) is affiliated with the American Legion Family

Ideas:

Member

• Contact your local churches, homeless shelters and food pantries to identify

homeless veterans’ children. Ask what their specific needs are, and offer them your

services as an ALA member.

• Contact your local news sources (newspaper, community television, community

websites and social media accounts) and town council. Offer to give a presentation

about you and your unit’s work for homeless veterans and their children.

• Contact your voluntary services representatives at the Veterans Affairs Medical

Center. Offer to work with them to help meet the needs of children of homeless

veterans who come to the VAMC.

• Contact local schools to access their need for supplies and extra clothes for homeless

children. Offer to supply items as needed.

• Volunteer at a TAPS camp program.

Unit

• Train unit members to be a resource for front-line agencies who receive requests for

help.

• Contact local schools to access their need for supplies and extra clothes for homeless

children. Offer to supply items as needed.

• Contact your post service officer to offer help with the needs of children for veterans

who need financial help. (The American Legion - Temporary Financial Assistance)

• Help raise awareness for the needs of homeless children in your community by

sharing unit activities on the unit website, social media pages and newsletters.

• Purchase the book, Klinger, a Story of Honor and Hope, from TAPS with the companion plush horse for children who are grieving the loss of a military parent or

loved one.

Children & Youth Awards Deadlines and Submission Requirements:

Taking the time to share a favorite story about the positive impact you or someone you

know has had on our mission is worth doing! It helps us tell the world who we are, what

we do, and why we matter. Just three simple steps to add your part to our national

success story:

1) Please follow instructions as you fill out the National Report and Awards Cover Sheet

found in the awards section of the Programs Action Plan.

2) Provide details/examples about the activity as outlined in the award’s materials and

guidelines section.

3) Submit as indicated in the Annual Supplement to the Programs Action Plan.

Ohio Unit Plan of Action

Children & Youth Reporting:

Mid-Year Reports

Mid-Year reports reflect the program work of units in the department, and are intended as an

opportunity for mid-year correction. Each Unit Children & Youth chairman is asked to

submit a narrative report by December 15, 2018 to the Department Children & Youth

chairman.

DEPARTMENT AWARD INFORMATION & DEADLINES

Leta Zeller Plaque – This plaque will be presented at Department Convention to the District

President with the "Highest Percentage" of Units contributing to The American Legion Child

Welfare Foundation by June 1st. Department Headquarters will calculate all donations and

determine winner.

Miriam Junge Plaque – This plaque is a Unit Chairman Award and will be presented at

Department Convention to the Unit Chairman promoting the most outstanding report for the

"Best Year Round Children & Youth Program". Those narratives accompanied by the

National Report and Awards Cover Sheet and meeting the National criteria will be forwarded

to the Divisional Chairman for judging. Entries are to be sent to Department Children &

Youth Chairman, Department Children & Youth Chairman, Ruth Peters, 205 N Hayes

St., Bellefontaine, Ohio 43311

Youth Hero And Good Deed Award - The YOUTH HERO AWARD is for a youth, under

18 years of age, who performs a heroic act of physical valor. THE GOOD DEED AWARD is

for a youth under 18 years of age, who does not meet the Youth Hero Award criteria, but

who displays great examples of community service. Application to be completed at Unit

level and mailed to Department Secretary Katie Tucker, American Legion Auxiliary, PO Box

2760, Zanesville, Ohio 43702-2760. The Department Secretary will certify the application

and forward it to National Headquarters. The National President will sign the Award

Certificate and return it to the Unit to be presented to the youth.

When sending in your Unit Narratives, please include photos or email them to the

Department C&Y Chairman so they can be included in the Department Report. We hope to

recognize your Unit for its work on the Children and Youth Program during Department

Convention.

Ohio Unit Plan of Action

Youth Hero and Good Deed Award Nomination Form NAME OF YOUTH

____________________________________________________________________

First Middle Initial Last

Youth’s date of birth _____ / _____ / _____ Age ________ ☐Male ☐ Female

Date of bravery or community service performed _______________________________

Submitted by Unit # __________ Department of _______________________________

Description of bravery and/or deed performed by youth (to be completed by unit)

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

Please attach news clippings to verify the deed being recognized. Clippings will not be

returned unless a self-addressed stamped envelope is provided.

UNIT CERTIFICATION (MUST BE CERTIFIED BY TWO UNIT MEMBERS)

Unit Member ______________________________________ Date ________________

Unit Member ______________________________________ Date ________________

Units should send completed applications to their department secretary.

DEPARTMENT SECRETARY CERTIFICATION

Name ___________________________________________ Date ________________

Department secretary mails request for medallion and/or certificate to National

Headquarters, 8945 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, IN 46260, who will ship at no cost to unit

or department.

Please ship medallion/certificate to: ☐Unit ☐ Department

Name __________________________ Address ______________________________

City ___________________________ State _________ ZIP ___________________

Phone ___________________________ Email ______________________________

Please use this form for all Youth Hero and Good Deed Award nominations. For more

information, contact National Headquarters at children&youth@ALAforVeterans.org or (317)

569-4500

NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS USE ONLY Date received _______________________

Date shipped _____________________

☐Youth Hero Award ☐ Good Deed Award By _____________________________